Conservation Manager - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium/Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Based on our internal equity review process, the starting salary for this position will be $109,024  yearly.  The full yearly salary range for this position is $109,024 - $149,253.

In a time of massive global transformation, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (together, ZEED), are well-positioned to build upon their previous successes and reemerge as a powerful player in the Puget Sound conservation community. ZEED benefits by being a part of Metro Parks Tacoma, with two facilities – one in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and the  other providing immersive wildlife experiences in Eatonville, Washington – ZEED has a particularly unique power to motivate the people of the Pacific Northwest towards conservation action and appreciation. This position is critical for the advancement of our recently crafted strategic plan that highlights our interdependency with nature.

Work where you play!

Join our team at Metro Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.

Who We Are

Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Metro Parks’ mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.

Why You’ll Love it Here

Come work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Metro Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Metro Parks are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. You’ll receive a competitive wage, along with an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, retirement, vacation, holidays, and much more. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information

Under the direction of the Director of ZEED (Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium/Northwest Trek Wildlife Park) the role develops, implements, and manages departmental initiatives to advance off-site/community experiences, improving access, and connection to, site-based experiences.  Provide oversight of ZEED contributed programming and staff associated with broad, school based, community service initiatives.

Engagement with local communities in developing and enhancing the protection of nature; deepening partnerships within community convening points and advance understanding of careers at ZEED or other related industries.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to conform to the following:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

Essential Duties

• Manage the development, implementation, and delivery services for off-site, community focused programming.    
• Act as liaison for ZEED with other Metro Parks departments and external Tacoma Public School partnerships (such as Beyond the Bell) with community agencies/groups and other school and related community organizations and events; ensure coordination of external activities with potential site-based activities.
• Manage the efforts as a member of the ZEED senior leadership team to ensure that strategic community initiatives are united into departmental work plans. 
• Provide leadership in ZEED DEAI; oversee the social justice committee and ensure collaboration and alignment with District initiatives.
• Manage formative evaluation processes to understand community needs in collaboration with other Metro Parks departments work; serve as ZEED liaison to assigned community council.
• Integrate empathy and conservation psychology research finding to develop and enhance community relationships and within ZEED organizational culture. 
• Work with department managers to enhance community-based conservation psychology research and empathy into exhibit and interpretive planning. 
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff through effective utilization of the Employee Performance Evaluation Program; recruit, interview and select employees and recommend transfers, reassignment, termination, and disciplinary actions; plan, coordinate and arrange for appropriate employee training programs to provide for opportunity for advancement and to acquire necessary skills.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATION, EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in developing, implementing and managing large scale community based programs.
• Bachelor's degree in public administration, communication or related field. An additional 4 years of related experience can substitute for the degree requirement.
• At least two years of supervisory experience. 
• JEDAI training, with certification preferred. 
• Bi or multilingual, highly desired. 

LICENSE & OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Obtain a valid First Aid and CPR card within the probationary period.

Additional Information

ENVIRONMENT:

• Combination of office environment with high level of offsite meetings engaging with community and staff throughout Metro Parks.
• Extensive contact with the public and partner organizations.
• Driving a vehicle to conduct work.

 PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Hearing and speaking to exchange information and make presentations.
• Sight to read and develop written and visual materials; monitor personnel and assigned operations and activities.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and standard office equipment.

 HAZARDS:

• Possible contact with dissatisfied or abusive 

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

• Professional, positive demeanor and a collaborative work style
• Strong leadership skills
• Collaborative work style
• Excellent customer service
• Proactive, helpful, can-do attitude
• Flexibility to adjust to dynamic work environment
• Good ethics and integrity
• Ability to work independently
• Strong attention to detail
• Analytical problem solving
• Ability to multitask in a stressful high paced work environment

 KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Staff supervision and professional development
• Planning, organization, and direction of assigned activities.
• Metro Parks policies and procedures.
• Organizations serving historically underserved communities.
• Principles and practices of administration, training and staff development.
• Effective written and verbal communications.
• Benefits of ZEED programs to the health, well-being, and sustainability of communities of focus.

 ABILITY TO:

• Plan, organize and direct a variety of programs, projects and activities of assigned divisions.
• Prepare and administer assigned budgets.
• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
• Assess and evaluate situations effectively.
• Exert optimal effort in successfully completing tasks.
• Ability to evaluate problems and effectively solve them in a timely manner. Respond to concerns with empathy and inclusivity. Respond appropriately to conflict.
• Identify and suggest changes that promote positive impacts with a lens for diversity and inclusion.
• Work independently and as part of a team within diverse teams and environments while treating everyone with respect.
• Communicate complex information in a way that is understandable and engaging to broad audiences, comfortable speaking to groups in a variety of settings.
• Perform emergency first aid and CPR as needed and according to established guidelines.

METRO PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

• All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.
• MPT employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• MPT is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource at hr@tacomaparks.com.
• Employment is subject to a national background check.
• This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.  

Experience Required

Five years of increasingly responsible experience that provides expertise in conservation-based project management, advocacy, and partnership building; a strong understanding of ecology/conservation biology, a working understanding of conservation psychology (community-based/focused conservation), and a passion/knowledge of complex conservation issues. Bachelor’s degree in conservation management or psychology or related field. An additional 4 years of related experience can substitute for the degree requirement. At least 2 years of supervisory experience. Graduate degree desired. Bi or multilingual, highly desired.